Barcelo Margaritas

while the hotel itself was clean, comfortable and enjoyable regarding poolside entertainment, new management left many guests frustrated. new rules were implemented randomly throughout the week, causing people to buy pool balls or floats, and then several days later be told that they could no longer use it. additionally, sunbeds are impossible to keep unless you are sat with them consistently. the pool staff take reserved towels from sunbeds late into the day, particularly during meal times where families have left to eat in the buffet, leaving them with the option of losing their beds or eating separately. some of the bar staff, though not all of them, are fairly rude, often taking orders and then ignoring the customer and refusing to serve them until they ask again. in terms of food availability, there is always something worth filling your plate with, but food variety is limited, as different stations within the buffet are filled with the same type of food, leaving your options each night mostly the same - often a variation of meat, potato and rice. i would not recommend for people who want quality and quantity within their all inclusive buffet. in terms of the pools themselves, the main pool is fun throughout the day, with engaging entertainment such as bingo, aerobics and water polo. however, the quieter pool at the top of the hotel is run down, with the pool floor peeling to reveal the concrete underneath, and the remaining paint is sharp and can very easily cut. the bar availability is very limited, with no bar inside the main lobby, leaving only the two poolside bars. while this is good during the day, it is lacking at night, after or before your meal, when you want to relax with a drink. in terms of the location, the best bars and restaurants are on the beach. if you are a family, i highly recommend that you do not visit the nearby shopping centres, as they are very, very focused on swingers and provocative bars, with the staff at these local bars often trying to convince you to enter, despite travelling with a young child, as “nothing happens until 10pm.” finally, the efficiency of the hotel aircon is weak, meaning most nights you end up falling asleep far too warm, or sweating during your meal at the buffet. overall, the hotel was very average, and did not nearly meet the expectations that were created through the advertisement.

Family of 5, rooms were clean. Food was repetitive, all inclusive. Food could be hotter and some breakfast staff were very rude. Pool area could be cleaner and pool itself could be cleaner. Weather was very good. We enjoyed our stay because we were with family. I will not be returning. I have stayed in other Barcelo hotels which I preferred.